Sharon,
If you are using version 1.9.9 there should be an option for you to exclude hidden items from the grade total for a category. I am not sure when this feature first appeared, so if you don't have 1.9.9 you should still check to see if you have these settings available.
The default is configured by the Site Administrator here.
Site Admin menu > Grades > Report Settings > User report > Hide totals if they contain hidden items > Show totals excluding hidden items
The same option is available for the Overview report
Site Admin menu > Grades > Report Settings > Overview > Hide totals if they contain hidden items > Show totals excluding hidden items
Those settings are also available in each course, so they can be determined by the teacher.
Course Admin menu > Grades > Settings > User report and/or Overview report > Hide totals if they contain hidden items > Show totals excluding hidden items
Gradebook
I need an easy way prevent grades from showing in total
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